my door.
“Yes, and I’m pretty sure it’s the biggest working farm in the area. The McKlintocks have been here for at least six generations and I have been their vet since I took over for Dr. Jones in twenty-fifteen.”
“The McKlintocks own the farm?” I asked as I met up with the doctor and we moved toward the barn.
She nodded.
“Mrs. McKlintock, Mason’s mother, runs the house and Mason, the farm, along with his foreman and a number of farm hands. Mr. McKlintock, Mason’s father, passed three years back. So, it’s all pretty much fallen to Mason.”
“Does he have a family?” I asked, naturally curious.
“No, as far as I know Mason’s single. Running this farm takes up most of his waking hours, I’m sure. I don’t know when he’d find the time … although I’m sure having a family to pass the farm down to is important to him.”
I could imagine it was a huge responsibility to run a place such as this, and the fact that he’d recently lost his father and was taking care of his mother, made me inclined to think I’d like Mason McKlintock.
“Come on, Charming, just eat a little bit. It’ll make you feel better, promise.”
We walked in to hear the sound of a man cooing those words to a large and very pregnant cow, and my heart melted just a little.
“Charming being stubborn again?” Dr. Garcia asked, causing the man to come up from his crouch and turn toward us.
He stood, and just seemed to keep right on standing.
Tall, with a trimmed beard, longish reddish-brown hair, and a tanned face, Mason McKlintock was the quintessential cowboy.
“Always, Doc, you know that,” he said, his voice deep and gravelly, and when the white of his teeth shown when he smiled, I felt a dip and sizzle deep in my belly.
Well, butter my biscuits … Mason McKlintock must be Cherry Springs best-kept secret, because I’ve only been in his presence two seconds and I’m ready to offer myself up as tribute to be the woman who would give him those babies to carry on his legacy.
Chapter Three
I followed behind and listened closely while Mason and the doc spoke about the cows who were ready to calf, a horse who needed to be reshoed, and a problem Mason had been having in the hen house.
I’d pulled out my phone and used the notes app to take everything down. I knew I’d have a hard time remembering everything they were talking about … I was too excited and too worried about everything I didn’t know. Luckily, they didn’t seem to think my aggressive note taking was weird.
In fact, it was almost like they’d forgotten I existed all together.
I hadn’t seen Mason so much as crack a smile since that first moment. He was extremely serious, a little gruff, and definitely all business.
“Well, you know it can be hard to pinpoint these things, but I’d guess Charming will need to be moved to the calving box in about six hours or so, and then you’ll have another six to twelve hours of labor before she delivers. I have to head back to town for a couple surgeries, but I’ll be back in plenty of time for the calving. I’d like to leave Rebecca here, just to keep an eye on things and be here in case you need anything, if that works for you.”
I glanced up at my name to find Mason watching me quietly.
I gave what I hoped was a smile of reassurance and tried not to flinch when he gave a small sigh in response.
Jeez, way to make a girl feel confident…
The morning was rapidly heating up and I wasn’t sure if it was the humidity or Mason’s gaze that had sweat beading up on my back and starting to trickle south.
“Of course, Doc, whatever you think is best,” Mason finally replied.
“Perfect. Becs, you have my number if you need anything,” she said as she started back toward her car.
I shuffled quickly behind her and whispered hurriedly, “Are you sure leaving me on my own is the best idea? What if something happens?”
“If anything happens, call me and I’ll be back here before you know it. We really just need a presence here to give Mason piece of mind and so that you can contact me if anything comes up. It’ll be fine, I promise. And Mason is one of our best clients, so it’s a good idea for you to get to know each other.”
I bit my lower lip